Born in New York City (in Elmhurst), I lived in several different places there but have memories only of The Bronx (off Fordham Road). Then my family moved out "on The Island"—to Lynbrook, where we stayed till I graduated from Hofstra (then a College). Several years after my wife, Pat, and I married, we, plus our two children, settled in the Boston area and have remained there (except for my daughter, Kate, who has lived in Manhattan for quite a while). I have been writing poetry since I was twelve (many moons ago).

​Sympatico(for my sister 1925-2011)

Strolling along the sidewalkI come to a metal grateand the plunge of black air beneath it

and swerve far to the leftjust as we did as kidsand even later

but—oh, Jean— I can't stop youfrom stepping on that grateas it collapses into darkness.

My Childhood World10 Dean Street

A minute after I awake,my muscles tense—my parentswill shout at each other all day.

It's always been like this,so I never think, “TodayI'm so unhappy.”

I know only that (like a secret giftfrom a fairy godmother)

a calm comes over mewhen, stepping outside, I seehow, midway down, the street

curves to the left (like a warm arm that bendsat the elbow to hug my shoulders,no longer tense).

Editor's Note: If this poem(s) moves you please consider writing to the author (email address above) to tell him or her. You might say what it is about the poem that moves you. Writing to the author is the beginning of community at Verse Virtual. It is very important. -FF